Stiyl Magnus was lying motionlessly on the ground.
The autumn wind was slowly flowing through the depot, as it blew through Stiyl's black coat. However, he was lying motionlessly on the ground. He was still breathing, but things didn't look good right now.
Tsuchimikado Motoharu said,
"Response...ah, got it. There's a response from the 'Divination circle array'. Here...according to such a change...it's from the north-west direction?"
Tsuchimikado didn't even bother to look at his comrade who was lying on the ground right in front of him. He just continued to stare at the red magic array around Stiyl that was 2 meter in diameter.
"From the response, the location of the Shorthand is...from this color intensity, 302 meters from here. To think that it's set up nearby, and the response didn't move at all. Just as I guessed, it's a stationary type that requires some set up nya. If so, Oriana can't possibly be too far away. Instead of running around, it'll be easier for her to mix into the crowd by walking slowly. Oi, Kami-yan, did you bring a map nya? I'd like to know what's 302 meters away from here."
"Tsu…chimikado..."
Kamijou was standing around, stunned, and shuddering slightly, but Tsuchimikado didn't seem to notice it. When he realized that Kamijou didn't reply back, he repeated himself without looking at Kamijou.
"Kami-yan, the map, map. Either that or the Daihaseisai tour guide booklet will be good. Oh yeah, there's the GPS map on the handphone. I'll look for it myself."
"TSUCHIMIKADO—!!"
When Tsuchimikado recovered, Kamijou suddenly grabbed the front of his sports shirt. The gold ornament hanging on Tsuchimikado's neck snapped, creating a loud sound. Kamijou, who was overly enraged, really wanted to destroy the magic array on the ground with his right hand, before considering that he forgot about Stiyl, who was neglected and was lying on the floor, thus preventing him from doing so.
Tsuchimikado, who was being grabbed by the front of his shirt, calmly stared at Kamijou's face.
"Kami-yan, you don't have to worry about Stiyl. That guy is a professional magician as well; he should have enough endurance to take these magical attacks. Besides, the spells that Oriana set up are mainly to 'obstruct', and not to 'attack'."
He casually said to Kamijou, who was extremely enraged.
"This kind of counterspell is basically about 'refining and modifying Stiyl's magic'. Magic is created by lifeforce, if it continues to modify, it'll cause changes in the human body like an engine being burnt, that's all there is to it. Kami-yan, this just looks like heatstroke, there's no need to make a fuss about it."
"Stop speaking to me like this! Don't you know who's the one who purposely got injured because of you!? Why must you be so cold!!"
Just when Kamijou decided to add more strength and pull Tsuchimikado closer to him,
(Cracking sound)
Tsuchimikado's temple was cracking slightly.
As blood emerged, his flanks that were covered by the PE attire began to turn red from the inside. The redness began to spill over, forming a wound that looked like he was stabbed with a blade-like thing.
"Tsu…chimikado..."
Kamijou frantically let go of his hand which was holding onto Tsuchimikado's shirt. However, Tsuchimikado's expression didn't change.
"This 'divination circle array' is a spell that can react to the magic used by the enemy and give information like the distance and direction. It's impossible for such a convenient thing to be activated without using magic, right, Kami-yan..."
Kamijou gasped.
That was right. If it was just drawing a magic array and using spells without any magic power, even Index could do that. To someone like her who didn't have any magic power, this was a skill that was suitable for her. But Kamijou had never seen Index use anything like this before, and neither had he seen her cheerfully explain this type of magic array called the 'Divination circle array'.
Tsuchimikado appeared to have some disruption in his breathing, but he continued,
"Compared to...the seeking magic that Stiyl uses, my magic isn't as impressive...just like this, I've made a mockery of myself."
He pressed against his flank that was already drenched in blood with one hand, and said,
"Listen carefully, Kami-yan. Like you said, it's my fault that Stiyl fell. If I were able to use better magic, this wouldn't have happened. I have to admit this. So it's alright no matter how much you hate me."
His legs continued to exert force onto the ground, supporting that body of his that was going to fall any second.
"But, I succeeded. I'll find that counterspell which Oriana set up, and destroy it. Also, with this hand of mine, I'll prevent this deal of the 'Stab sword' from taking place. With this, our debts are even. The remaining interest, when everything's over...I'll return it with interest back to Stiyl."
He couldn't possibly not care about Stiyl's injuries.
Because he was aware about this, Tsuchimikado chose to keep a cold attitude about it in order to repay his fallen comrade. The faster they could end the battle, the lesser Stiyl's burdens would be.
Facing Kamijou, who was stunned in front of him, Tsuchimikado smiled.
He seemed to be saying: The fact that I hurt Stiyl hasn't changed, so please don't change your attitude so fast.
"Kami-yan, the map. I'd like to know what's at 302 meters away from here in the north-west direction. The Shorthand counter spell that Oriana set up is definitely there."
"Ah...Orh..."
As the Daihaseisai tour guide booklet was extremely thick, it was impossible to put it inside the pocket of a sports attire. Kamijou used the GPS function of his phone to found the place that Tsuchimikado specified.
In the end.
He began to doubt his eyes.
"This...Tsuchimikado, is it really in the north-west direction? Distance is 302 meters, right?"
"More accurately, with 0 degrees in the north direction, the angle is 318 degrees from here, so it's the north-west direction alright. It's an approximate distance given, but generally, there's nothing wrong."
"...That bastard."
Kamijou showed the designated location to Tsuchimikado.
Tsuchimikado's face was frozen in shock.
Kamijou thought, it wasn't weird for him to have this kind of reaction.
Because the location given was in the middle of a certain junior high school.
The flying ship that was slowly flying in the autumn sky was airing the introductions for the next match. There were only ten minutes before the match started within the school.